Cita says, "Hi Mom #1!!"

The girls have finally figured it out. They are sisters.

The Blind

I am worried about my little pupper Mitzie Mouse. She seems like she is having a hard time seeing. On walks she lets me lead, Zoey is always in front. This wasnt the case just a few months ago. Now, she follows, always behind, always seemingly unsure of herself. Her eyes are cloudy, so gray, not the syrupy brown eyes of her puppyhood. She flinches when you throw anything, ducks at the leash, all slightly slow, slightly off.

I am not sure why every so often this heart wrenching ache comes over me about her. I wonder how long I will get to keep her, how empty life will be without her. My whole adult life has been experienced with that dog. She has traveled the world and gotten a PhD. Is Zoey good for her? Sometimes I wonder if Zoey has taken all the attention, all the frisky time. Now, if Mitz gets frisky, Zoey cant stand it and has to try to play with her. Of course, Mouser hates it, stops and snaps. I think I need to get her checked out, just because. It must be time for my nerves to be put at ease.

She has literally slept all day, only going on a walk around the block and a trip outside this morning. She holds it all day, sleeping. She just came up to give me night-night loveys. I love her like my child. I do.

Oatmeal and Other Foods

I just don't understand why I cannot, for the life of me, get my oatmeal to taste like my friend Loretta's. I have the oats, Promise butter, brown sugar, and almonds, but no matter what I do, it tastes like cardboard feet. I just don't get it. She must be putting a lot of brown sugar in there or has a chef sneak in and make it in the morning at her house. Stupid chefs.

One of my best friends Jody (aka Jailbird) came into town on Thursday last. She actually flew into Dallas and borrowed her grandpa's car to drive down to see San Antonio, and of course my new house. I got home from work about 4, just in time for the couch to get situated. It had just arrived earlier that morning between classes. She came in about 5 and we immediately started the yacking and the laughing. We decided to go to the Riverwalk for dinner. I had a coupon for a fancy restaurant called Citrus in the Valencia Hotel. Even the $25 dollars only allowed us a bit of a taste with dishes around 55$. It was a gorgeous night though. Crisp and cool with just enough people to make one feel safe and not enough to make the river problematic. So we walked, got lost, walked and then arrived at the Hotel for dinner. After such a small meal, we decided to hit another hot spot, Acenar, for drinks. We got home about 1 and Jody slept in the following morning while I went to work registration on Friday. Got home about 2 and we immediately went to eat at this cute little diner called DeWeses Tip Top Cafe (I thought it was a dry cleaners until a friend told me it was on some Travel Channel "best cafe" list. Boy, what a hoot! It was built in 1938 and I dont think a damn thing has changed. A cheeseburger was $3.75 and was handmade! Yummyness. After feeding our faces which I do a lot around Jody) we went to see the Alamo. Oh yes, it still stands, little and desolate of true interest, other than its very shape, it stands. One picture there and more walking around, we missed Jesus Christ Superstar which was playing at the Majestic Theatre and ended up playing cards at La Fogata, drinking margaritas and once again, feeding our faces. Saturday we headed to Austin, ate with Diane at Corozon which is the new restaurant in the place of Castle Hill Cafe. It's food is still similar however. After eating we a indulged in Scrabble and wine at Cippolina near my old house on WestLynn. We shut the place down. It was such fun to play and spend time with my jailbird friend. Her case was dismissed, by the way. She left to go to her uncle's as she left for a cruise the following morning. Me? I ate Oatmeal at Loretta's, worked on my packet for my Content Area Literacy class at UT, and drove back home.

Funny, I first titled this blog Oatmeal and Jody, but now realize it is actually all about food! I swear, no wonder I am a piggie!

The Good and the Bad

The good: We have a new president who is gracious and well-spoken, who is of the people, and who is ready to tackle an America that is disjointed and egocentric.

The bad: My cousin Erin found out today that she is carrying a baby girl (Sarah) with Trisomoy 18, among other deformities. She already has a little girl, Emily, who has plentiful health problems. The world can be a cruel place.

I can't follow the bad news above with anything. There are no words, no life situation, that can possibly follow the impending and current pain Erin and her family are experiencing today with the loss of Sarah.

Back to Work

The break is over. So sad. I am back to life, back to reality. So, my goals for the holiday have sort of been accomplished. I saw everyone:

1. Austin: Saw Loretta and Diane. Went shopping and ate well.
2. Dallas: Saw my oldest friend Deanne's new little baby boy. He is a peanut! I just adore his smile and bundled little self. So sweet. His name is Allen. I, of course, saw Grandpa who looks as if he is not the same person. Grandma is feisty and Eric is loud. Mom has a lot of health complaints and Dad is, well, tired. He isn't sleeping so well lately. But, it was a great trip home. Nothing changes there, it is only me that changes I guess.
3. Houston: Saw Karen and Logan. Zoey loves Fletch, their dog, even to the point of playing tug of war with him. It was non-stop. Logan was as charming and smart as ever. We played, cleaned his toys (even giving some away!), and went to the aquarium. Such fun to have a little boy around. Then, I drove about an hour to see Eric and his new apartment on the marina in League City. We reworked his house, ate good Asian food, and watched Intervention.